McDonnell-Douglass F/A-18A “Hornet”
On Loan from National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL
The F/A-18 entered service in 1983 with a Marine fighter/attacker squadron. The aircraft on display (Bureau# 162436) began its service with the Navy on 4 June 1985 as the 183rd F/A-18 built. It served in various locations with its last assignment with Marine fighter attack squadron (VMFA-321) at Naval Air Facility Washington, DC. In late 2003, the aircraft arrived at NAS-JRB Willow Grove and formally stricken from Navy/Marine Corps inventory.
The aircraft markings are from the personal aircraft of then Willow Grove Commanding Officer Capt. Lane Smith, past commanding officer of VFA-203, the Blue Dolphins, out of Atlanta, GA. Although the aircraft was supposed to go to NAS Lakehurst, after negotiations with The National Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida the DVHAA was able to secure the F/A-18A Hornet for permanent display at our museum on December 14, 2014.
This aircraft loan courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
Specifications
Bureau #: | 162436 |
Built: | 1983 |
Crew: | 1 |
Passengers: | 0 |
Retired: | 2003 |
Received: | Dec 2014 |
Restored by: | |
Restored: | |
Length: | 56′ |
Height: | 15′ 4″ |
Wingspan: | 40′ 5″ |
Weight Empty: | 23,050 lbs |
Weight Loaded: | 51,000 lbs |
Powerplant: | F404-GE-402 turbofan engines |
Thrust: | 17,700 lbs per engine |
Max Speed: | 1,222 mph |
Range: | 2,000 miles |
Manufacturer: | McDonnel-Douglas |
Armarment: | M61A1 Vulcan 6 Cannon |
Ordnance: | 17,000 lbs |
Ceiling: | 50,000 ft |
Status: | On Display |
Please contact the museum if you have any information, comments, or recollections of this F/A-18 Hornet.